The rest of the 20 matches of the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) could be postponed if the PCB doesn’t get “clarifications” from the Abu Dhabi government by Thursday. However, with this development, the questions raised if the season can be completed. Meanwhile, a meeting took place on Wednesday between the board and all the franchises and a few more things need to be cleared soon.
“In today’s online discussion, we updated the team owners that the PCB had been advised that the PSL had received approvals from the relevant authorities in the UAE,” Wasim Khan, the PCB chief executive, said after the meeting. “However, some clarifications on certain exemption requests are still awaited, which are expected at some stage on Thursday. The team owners agreed that if we do not receive clarity by Thursday afternoon, then they’ll have no other option but to request postponement of the remaining 20 matches.”
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However, the 2021 edition was earlier suspended only after 14 matches taking place in Karachi, following a surge of COVID-19 cases among players and support staff. The PCB then decided to hold the rest of the matches in the UAE after the National Command and Operations Authority advised it against hosting it in Karachi. Notably, National Command and Operations Authority looks after the COVID-19 situation in Pakistan. The PCB identified the June window to host the remaining season in Karachi.
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But the decision to shift out of Karachi was taken earlier this month, after the surge in Covid-19 cases in the city. The UAE was a frontrunner since it was Pakistan’s home for international cricket for a long time as well. But the final decision will be taken on tomorrow. While the league was supposed to resume on June 1, franchises and officials were supposed to enter into the hotels in Karachi and Lahore on Thursday but that has been put on hold. And a June 1 begin looks highly unlikely as of now as well.